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Putin Links Parliamentary Election to Support for Ukraine War

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged citizens to participate in the country’s upcoming parliamentary election, presenting voter participation as a measure of national support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The three-day election begins on Friday and will determine the 450 seats in the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.

The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It comes as polls indicate growing anxiety among some Russians over the impact of the war, while the economy faces pressure. Many anti-war candidates have also been excluded from the ballot, according to Reuters.

In a televised address, Putin said voting would demonstrate unity and support for Russian soldiers while presenting the election as a response to what he described as external efforts to weaken Russia. The ruling United Russia party, which is backed by Putin, is widely expected to maintain its dominance in the State Duma.

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BRICS Adopts Joint Declaration, Calls for Maximum Restraint in Middle East

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BRICS nations have unanimously adopted a joint declaration expressing deep concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East and calling for “maximum restraint.” The statement was issued on the first day of the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi, amid renewed exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran.

The declaration urged countries to avoid actions that could further worsen tensions and supported a multilateral approach that respects the positions of individual nations. BRICS members also reaffirmed their commitment to resolving international disputes through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy.

The agreement was seen as a significant diplomatic outcome because the bloc includes both Iran and the UAE, a close US partner. The declaration also raised concerns over unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that could distort global trade, highlighting broader economic and geopolitical issues facing the expanding BRICS grouping.

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Milei Escalates Argentina’s Falklands Sovereignty Claim

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Argentine President Javier Milei has stepped up Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands, announcing plans for tougher penalties against companies involved in oil development around the British-controlled territory. Argentina, which calls the islands Las Malvinas, continues to pursue its claim through diplomatic and international channels.

The dispute dates back centuries but intensified after Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, triggering a 74-day war with Britain that ended with an Argentine surrender. Britain has maintained control ever since and argues that the roughly 3,660 islanders have the right to determine their own future. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8% of voters backed remaining under British rule, a result Argentina rejects.

The issue remains geopolitically sensitive, particularly as oil exploration around the islands expands. China supports Argentina’s call for negotiations, while the United States has historically avoided taking a definitive position on sovereignty. President Donald Trump said in 2026 that Washington was reviewing its stance, while Milei has ruled out military action and said Argentina’s claim should be pursued through diplomacy.

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Norway Seizes Russian Ship Over $4.2 Billion Naftogaz Claim

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Norway has seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic to enforce a $4.22 billion compensation claim awarded to Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz over assets Russia seized following its 2014 annexation of Crimea. The ship was detained off Svalbard and will remain in the Norwegian Arctic archipelago.

The Svalbard governor’s office confirmed that the vessel would be held in Svalbard and said arrangements would be made for its crew and passengers. Russia has demanded the ship’s immediate release and said it would pursue the matter through legal channels. The vessel had arrived in the Russian-operated settlement of Barentsburg carrying Russian scientists.

Naftogaz has been pursuing Russian assets in several countries to enforce a 2023 Hague tribunal ruling that awarded it $4.22 billion plus interest and legal costs. The Ukrainian company said it would continue seeking Russian assets worldwide until the compensation is paid, while Russia continues to challenge the enforcement efforts.

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Russia Protests Japan Over Takaichi’s Remarks on Disputed Islands

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Russia has summoned Japan’s ambassador to Moscow and issued a strong protest over comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Ambassador Akira Muto that Moscow objected to what it described as “anti-Russian” remarks by Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Russia reiterated that its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Southern Kuril Islands were “indisputable.”

The dispute concerns four islands seized by the Soviet Union in the final days of World War Two. Russia administers the islands, while Japan claims them as the Northern Territories. The unresolved territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.

Tensions have further deteriorated since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan joined Western nations in imposing sanctions on Moscow and supporting Ukraine. Russia told Muto that it reserves the right to take “appropriate countermeasures,” without specifying what those measures could be.

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Fire at Russian Oil Refinery Extinguished After Drone Attack

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A fire at Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region was extinguished on Saturday after debris from a Ukrainian drone caused a blaze at the facility, local authorities said.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces had targeted both the Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries overnight, reporting fires at both sites. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences had destroyed 397 Ukrainian drones across several regions, while officials in the Samara region confirmed that drones had targeted an industrial facility without identifying it.

The attacks are part of Ukraine’s ongoing strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says are aimed at disrupting resources used to finance Russia’s war effort. The Ilsky refinery has an annual processing capacity of more than 6 million tonnes of crude oil, while the Syzran refinery can process around 8.5 million tonnes. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims from either side.

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EU Pledges Fresh Support to Armenia Amid Rising Russian Economic Pressure

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The European Union has announced an additional €18 million in economic assistance for Armenia and eased export rules for Armenian goods as part of efforts to strengthen ties with the South Caucasus nation. The support comes as Armenia faces increasing trade restrictions from Russia, which have affected key exports including fresh produce, flowers, fish, and alcoholic beverages. The latest funding forms part of a broader €52 million assistance package unveiled earlier this year.

During a visit to Yerevan, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen assured Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that the EU would stand by Armenia despite external economic pressure. She said the bloc would remove tariffs on nearly 80% of Armenian exports, giving businesses easier access to the European Union’s market of around 450 million consumers. Von der Leyen emphasised that the EU would continue supporting partners facing economic challenges.

The announcement reflects Armenia’s growing efforts to strengthen relations with the European Union while maintaining its position in the Russian-led economic union. Russia remains Armenia’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 35% of its foreign trade, while the EU represents around 11%. The EU also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace and regional connectivity in the South Caucasus through investments in transport, energy, and digital infrastructure.

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Ukrainian Drone Strike on Moscow Refinery Highlights War’s Growing Impact Inside Russia

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A major Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region has brought the realities of the war closer to Russia’s capital, striking an oil refinery and causing visible disruption across parts of the city. Thick black smoke rose over the skyline following the attack, while reports indicated that residential buildings and commercial properties were also affected. Local authorities said an eight-year-old girl was killed in a fire linked to the strikes.

The attack is being described as one of the largest aerial assaults on the Moscow region since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While many residents have grown accustomed to periodic drone attacks and security incidents, the strike underscored the increasing reach of the conflict into Russian territory. Some residents expressed shock at the scale of the attack, while others viewed it as part of a new normal created by the prolonged war.

Russian officials and state media sought to downplay the impact, emphasizing that Russia’s military operations in Ukraine remain more extensive and effective. However, repeated attacks on energy infrastructure, including oil facilities, have raised concerns about economic pressure, fuel shortages, and rising costs. Despite the growing frequency of such incidents, the Kremlin has signalled no change in its military strategy and remains committed to continuing the conflict.

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Israel Anticipates New European Air Defense Contracts Amid Rising Russia Worries

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Israel expects to secure multiple new contracts for its air and missile defense systems from European nations in the coming months, with at least one major agreement projected to close within weeks. Speaking at the Berlin Airshow, Moshe Patel, director of the Israeli Missile Defense Organization, confirmed a surge in demand from Western Europe. This strategic push is directly driven by heightening security concerns over Russian military capabilities, prompting European governments to expedite their defense procurement and upgrade their regional shields.

The anticipated deals follow several high-profile sales of advanced Israeli defense architecture to NATO members. Germany previously purchased the Arrow system, built to intercept intermediate-range ballistic missiles, while Finland acquired David’s Sling, which targets ballistic threats from 100 km to 200 km away. European planners are tracking theater dynamics in Ukraine and Iran closely, operating under the strategy that defenses capable of neutralizing advanced Russian weaponry will prove equally effective against other global missile threats.

Beyond long-range shields, European nations are also showing immense interest in the renowned Iron Dome system, which is optimized for intercepting short-range rockets and artillery. Patel emphasized that the ability to safeguard critical urban centers and strategic infrastructure is a major priority for countries sharing direct borders with potentially hostile adversaries. While specific nations and exact financial figures remain confidential, officials confirmed that the upcoming orders involve substantial volumes, with more nations expected to finalize agreements by the end of the year.

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Russian Air Strikes Kill Nine and Cause Severe Damage to Historic Kyiv Cathedral

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A massive wave of overnight Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine has killed at least nine people and severely damaged the historic 11th-century Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv. According to local officials, four individuals lost their lives in the Ukrainian capital, while five rescue workers were killed in the northeastern city of Kharkiv while trying to extinguish a fire from a separate strike. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that the bombardment ignited residential buildings and vehicles, leaving over 140,000 residents without electricity and wounding dozens more.

The strikes heavily damaged the Dormition Cathedral, a centerpiece of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gaping holes and flames were visible along the building’s partially destroyed roof before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fiercely condemned the attack, calling it “one of the biggest Russian crimes against Christian culture today,” and stated that Russia deployed a total of 70 missiles and 611 drones during the assault. In response, Moscow denied deliberately targeting the cathedral, claiming without evidence that a malfunctioning Ukrainian Patriot air defense missile may have caused the destruction while maintaining that its forces only targeted military sites.

The escalation comes just ahead of a G7 summit in France, where international leaders are scheduled to discuss the ongoing war. President Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron both issued strong condemnations, with Macron stating that “nothing justifies this attack on our universal heritage.” Zelensky urged the G7 nations to deliver a decisive response through heightened economic pressure on Moscow and advanced anti-ballistic air defense systems. Meanwhile, cross-border tensions spiked further as Russian local officials reported a retaliatory Ukrainian drone strike in the city of Tula that killed three people, including a one-year-old child.

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